As a member of the UK Coloured Pencil Society, or UKCPS, I was invited to submit a Top Tip which will be a part of the membership package. This appealed to both the art tutor in me and also the artist, as I know how hard it can be to become confident working with a new medium. When I started drawing in coloured pencil there was very little guidance available, and although the digital era has brought with it a previously unimaginable wealth of information, there are also a huge amount of opinions to wade through.
When teaching I have always stressed that I was sharing what I found worked best for me and for those I met, and that it may be different for my students as we all have our individual preferences and there are no hard and fast rules in art. That said, experience is a great thing to share, especially when paired with reasons why a particular approach is recommended. So that is what I hope to offer with my Top Tip.
The UKCPS is a brilliant organisation for any coloured pencil enthusiasts to join. You do not need to be a great artist, everyone is made very welcome, and there are numerous ways to be involved, to learn from one another, exhibit your drawings, to encourage and to be supported. I would definitely recommend any coloured pencil artists check them out and join this thriving community, and perhaps even share a Top Tip of their own.
